November 2009

11/30/2009

Lori WildeI have always been fascinated with the art of knitting. As a child, I would watch in awe as my mother would create beautiful afghans and colorful scarves. She always seemed so relaxed and at ease while masterfully designing her next creation. When the time finally came for me to join in on the fun, it didn’t take long for the “ooh” and “ahh” factor to quickly fade away. Knit one. Purl two. Whatever! Let it suffice to say that it’s not as easy as it looks!The lead character in this month’s Jen’s Jewels feature title can relate well to my knitting nightmare since she, too, is knitting-challenged! In THE SWEETHEARTS’ KNITTING CLUB, romance writer extraordinaire Lori Wilde takes the reader to the quaint, small town of Twilight, Texas in her new series sure to please her fans. Without a doubt, this delightful story is the perfect read for the holiday season.As part of this interview, Avon Books has generously donated five copies for you, my lucky readers, to win. So, don’t forget to check for the trivia question at the end. And who knows? Perhaps you may be inspired to try to learn how to knit when you’re done! Better yet…maybe you could even teach me! Jen: It’s always a treat being able to catch a glimpse into the life of a favorite author such as you. So that my readers may have a better understanding of the woman behind the words, please share with us your educational and professional background.Lori: I went to school to become a license practical nurse the week I turned 17. At the time, I was the youngest student ever enrolled in the LVN program in the state of Texas. I didn’t want to be a nurse. I always wanted to be a writer, but my parents told me I had to get out and make my own way because they had four other kids to raise. They offered to pay for LVN school. There were one hundred students vying for 20 slots. I prayed that I wouldn’t get in, but I did. Later, I put myself through R.N. school while working full time as an LVN. I didn’t write in the six years that it took to get my bachelors degree from Texas Christian University, but the minute I graduated, I started writing short stories. I wrote sixty short stories and didn’t sell a single one. I decided I needed to take writing classes and because I’d already written so much, I was at the head of the class. The teacher told me I needed to write a book. That was scary to me, so I looked around to see what books were short and that’s when I discovered Harlequin. I’m also a library school dropout. I have 18 hours toward a master’s degree in Library Science. I was a nurse for 22 years before I was able to retire and write full time.Jen: Describe for us your “Ah! Ha!” moment when you knew that becoming an author would be your destiny.Lori: When my writing teacher told me I was more talented than Fern Michaels. I decided right then that no matter what it took, I was going to become a published author or die in the process.Jen: For those readers unfamiliar with your work, let’s talk about your prior releases. You have penned over fifty books for three major publishing houses and have received numerous nominations for your work. If you had to recommend one book that best exemplifies your talent, which title would you choose and why? Lori: Actually, I have now sold 52 books to four major publishers. I have to say my latest book best exemplifies my talent because it’s an accumulation of 20 years worth of writing practice. My personal favorite of all my books is probably Saving Allegheny Green because it’s written in first person. I love first person and the heroine is the most like me of any of my heroines. But I wrote that book in 1998, (even though it didn’t get published until 2005), and I’ve improved a great deal as a writer since then.Jen: What is the most valuable piece of advice about the business that you have learned from working with more than one publisher?Lori: That you’re never as good or as bad as you think you are. Jen: In your latest release, THE SWEETHEARTS’ KNITTING CLUB, you combine, love, lust, and knitting into a delightful read filled with colorful characters and a captivating storyline. (I couldn’t put it down!) How did you arrive at the premise?Lori: I came up with the basic romance plot—a love triangle between a good boy who’s not so good, a bad boy who’s not so bad and a woman who loves them both—while spending hours on the road driving forty miles one way to my mother-in-law’s house every day for six weeks to take her to radiation treatment for breast cancer. I plotted the whole book in my head during those drives. At the time I was with a different publisher, working on the last book in my Wedding Veil Wishes series, but I knew that THE SWEETHEARTS’ KNITTING CLUB would be my next contemporary.Jen: A question I just have to ask, are you a knitter? Why or why not?Lori: I am now. I wasn’t a knitter when I came up with the idea of the knitting club, and neither is my heroine. But I knew that in order to do justice to the book, I had to learn. My mother and I took knitting classes together and now I’m obsessed with knitting. I’m still a rank beginner, but I love it!Jen: Your lead character Flynn McGregor has many crosses to bear. Flynn’s mother died during her teen years, her father is a recovering alcoholic, and her sister depends on her wisdom as the mother figure in her life. In what ways has the stress of all this responsibility at such a young age affected Flynn’s own desires for happiness?Lori: Flynn has shuffled her own desires to the background while making sure everyone else in her life is okay. I had a lot of responsibility as a teen, both my parents worked two jobs and I was the oldest of five with my sister being twelve years younger, so it was easy to understand how Flynn puts the needs of others ahead of her own happiness. It just seemed normal to me.Jen: Flynn’s fiancé Beau holds a tight grip on “his woman,” if you will. In his eyes, being the sheriff in town gives him the authority to throw his weight around quite easily, even with Flynn. What makes him so attractive to Flynn? And conversely, what does Beau see in her that makes him stick around for ten years despite her obvious fear of commitment?Lori: Even though she doesn’t realize it, Beau is sort of her crutch. She knows she can count on him to be there and he does put up with a lot from Flynn. In a way, she takes advantage of his loyalty. Beau doesn’t see himself as a bad guy at all. Because of what happened to Beau’s first love, he sees himself as Flynn’s protector. That’s an important identity to him and I guess you could say Flynn makes him feel good about himself. And he does love her in his twisted fashion.Jen: No romance novel is complete without a bad boy! Soothingly sexy Jesse Calloway strolls into town upsetting its order and civility by vying for the sheriff’s girl. Having spent the last ten years in prison for a crime he did not commit, this “hottie” has an axe to grind with the man responsible for stealing his life away. Why does he allow his ego to get the better of him as he tries to win back his former lover Flynn?Lori: Hmm, I don’t see that Jesse did let his ego get the better of him. I saw him as being really hurt because she didn’t trust him. Maybe that is letting his ego get the better of him, but I didn’t think of it that way. He’s been hurt so much in his life that I saw it more as his vulnerability.Jen: From the get-go, Flynn does not believe that Beau’s marriage proposal is the answer to her future. Why then does she choose to go ahead and accept it? In the back of her mind, what does she fear the most?Lori: She sees Beau as safe. Flynn has always chosen the safe path.Jen: Secondary characters have a way of stealing the show, and in this book Hondo is no exception. Without giving too much away, how are he and Jesse similar in their primal need to love and be loved?Lori: They’re both proud men who were hurt deeply by the women they loved.Jen: Would you agree that Flynn’s decision to open a knitting store is an attempt to gain a sense of acceptance from her deceased mom? Even from the grave, what influence does she have over her daughter and why? Lori: Oh absolutely. Flynn is a people pleaser and in essences, she took over the parent role when he mother became ill. She loves her mother deeply and wants to honor her. Jen: Let’s switch gears and talk about your promotional plan for the book. Please tell us about your website. Do you have e-mail notification of upcoming releases? Do you participate in author phone chats? And if so, how would my readers go about scheduling one? Lori: I’m having a new website built by Wax Creative. Not sure yet when it will be up and running. I do have email notification of upcoming releases to readers on my newsletter list and through Fresh Fiction where I’m advertising. I haven’t yet participated in author phone chats. My schedule is pretty hectic. I write five books a year and teach monthly online writing classes through 1600 colleges and universities internationally. Jen: Readers, here is a link to one of her on-line classes! http://www.ed2go.com/cgi-bin/ed2go/newcrsdes.cgi?course=rws&title=Romance^Writing^Secrets&departmentnum=PW&path=1Jen: Are you currently at work on your next project? If so, what can you share with us?Lori: I’m working on the third book in the series about Twilight, Texas. This time the ladies of the knitting club are involved in a Christmas cookie swap. Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with my readers. I absolutely loved the book! Many wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season!Lori: Thank you so much. It was a delight to be here. Happy holidays to all the readers out there. Thank you so much for continuing to read.I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Lori. Please stop by your local library branch or favorite bookstore and pick up a copy today. Better yet, how would you like to win one? Okay, be one for the first five readers to e-mail me at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the trivia question and it’s yours!Name the title of Lori’s personal favorite book?Later this month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Lynne Hinton, author of the inspirational book CHRISTMAS CAKE. You won’t want to miss it!Until next time…Jen

Gabriel McQueen is filled with joy this holiday season. Returning home to Wilson Creek, Maine from active duty, he is counting the minutes until he can hold his son in his arms. Being widowed at an early age has caused Gabriel to put up a protective wall around his heart. Never again will he be forced to lose the woman he loved. Once was hard enough. Twice is not an option.Upon Gabriel’s arrival, a dangerous ice storm is headed to Wilson Creek and the town is frantically preparing for its approach. Sheriff McQueen needs all the help he can get to ensure the safety of his people. So naturally, he enlists his son Gabriel to go check on a young woman named Lolly Helton who lives on the outskirts of town. The former mayor’s daughter has always thought she was better than most everyone else. Or at least that’s what Gabriel has always believed. Without a doubt, these two polar opposites have never seen eye to eye. Being back in Wilson Creek is not Lolly’s idea of having fun. Luckily for her, all she needs to do is settle her family’s estate and then get back to living her life in Portland. Sadly, she has no love interest waiting for her at home. Perhaps one day she’ll find that special man who will sweep her off her feet.As Gabriel begrudgingly arrives at Lolly’s home, he discovers two drug addicts holding her hostage. Kicking his military survival instincts into overdrive, he helps her escape only to be detected by the assailants. With only each other to rely on, this unlikely pair must brave the freezing, harsh ice storm in order to survive. Will they be able to make it out of the wilderness alive? Or will their stubbornwillsbe the driving force that causes them to perish?ICE is the latest release by the superstar New York Times Bestselling Author Linda Howard. Just in time for the holidays, she pens a fast-paced thriller filled with fear, suspense, and lust. Without a doubt, ICE is the perfect gift for under the tree.

Carolyn HartE very summer, my husband and I take the boys to our favorite destination, Charleston, SC. With each visit, we discover another facet of the Holy City that we never knew existed. Without a doubt, our most memorable tour was in Charleston’s Haunted Historic District. Lurking in one of the country’s oldest graveyards after dark in search of ghostly beings is an indescribable experience. Even if we hadn’t entertained the idea of them existing before, afterwards we were true believers! This month’s Jen’s Jewels Carolyn Hart knows exactly what I am talking about. In her latest release MERRY, MERRY GHOST she continues her highly popular Bailey Ruth Series incorporating the holiday season with ghostly beings. A delightful mystery perfect for this time of year, her jolly good cheer brings much joy to her many devoted fans.As part of this interview, William Morrow has generously donated five copies for you, my lucky readers, to win. So, don’t forget to check for the trivia question at the end. And without a doubt, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your holiday season! Jen: As a child, you were nipped by the “writing bug” at the young age of eleven. Since then, you have become an award-winning mystery writer as well as a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction nominee. So that my readers may have a better understanding of the path that led to your stellar career, please tell us about your educational and professional background.Carolyn: I was a child during WWII and I quickly realized the importance of newspapers. We received most of our news from the newspapers or radio. I decided to be a reporter when I grew up. I worked on school newspapers and majored in journalism at the University of Oklahoma. I never thought about being anything other than being a reporter, but a funny thing happened on the way to the newsroom. I married a law student. I worked on the Norman Transcript while he was in law school. After his graduation and the arrival of our children, I decided not to go back to work as a reporter. That was when I first thought about writing fiction. I saw a contest for a mystery for girls 8 to 12. I loved Nancy Drew and I decided to write a book. The Secret of the Cellars won the contest. It was my first published book. My 43rd published book is the just released MERRY, MERRY GHOST. Jen: When you first launched your career back in 1964, you began by writing teenage and young adult mysteries. From there, you went on to write some non-series books. Describe for us what it was like for a woman in the publishing business during that time in terms of establishing a career as a mystery writer. What was the most challenging part of the process?Carolyn: I was a writer working in isolation in Oklahoma. I had no knowledge of New York publishing. At that time, New York publishing houses believed there were two kinds of mysteries, the hard-boiled private eye books written by American men with male protagonists, and the traditional mystery written by dead English ladies. There was no room in this publishing world for mysteries by American women. In the mid 1980s, the private eye books written by Marcia Muller, Sara Paretsky, and Sue Grafton were published. New York bought the books because they fit the concept of the American mystery even though written by women with women protagonists. The success of these books persuaded New York publishers that readers were interested in books by American women with women protagonists. That opened the window of opportunity for me and many other women writers. Jen: Now let’s fast-forward to 1987 with your first commercially successful series called DEATH ON DEMAND. How did the series evolve?Carolyn: I was a discouraged writer. In 1985, I had written seven books in seven years and at that time none of them had sold. I decided to try one more time. I wrote the kind of book I love to read, the traditional mystery that celebrates goodness and justice. I had no hope the book would sell so I simply had fun. I created a young couple who truly loved each other. That wasn't fashionable in books then. Often a woman protagonist had no relationship with a man or she was involved in a dysfunctional relationship. I didn't think it had to be that way. I am not romantic, but I believe in love. Annie and Max understand how to love. They are young, enthusiastic, and genuine. I set Death on Demand in a mystery bookstore because I revere mysteries. I wanted through Annie to share my joy in books that celebrate goodness. I set DEATH ON DEMAND on a fictional version of Hilton Head Island. We started vacationing there in the mid 1970s. I love the South Carolina lowcountry. In my view, anything can happen in a land where Spanish moss quivers from the limbs of live oaks and alligators rest on the banks of lagoons. To my great joy, readers liked Annie and Max and their idyllic sea island. Annie and Max will embark on their 20th adventure in LAUGHED 'TIL HE DIED (April 2010). Jen: In the early 90’s, you began your next series called HENRIE O. Please describe for us its premise as well as its unique appeal.Carolyn: Henrietta O'Dwyer (Henrie O) Collins is a retired newspaper reporter, a smart, capable, sophisticated woman who has known joy and sorrow and roamed the world. She is my tribute to older American women who are often dismissed as negligible by our culture. Henrie O expects to be treated with respect. I have always explained that Henrie O is taller, smarter, and braver than I, but she very much reflects my attitudes and interests.Jen: Your latest endeavor is the BAILEY RUTH RAEBURN mystery series which mixes the supernatural with murder! Quite a novel concept! This month, the second title called MERRY, MERRY GHOST hits bookstores. For those readers unfamiliar with the premise of the series, please give us some background including a description of the quirky Bailey Ruth Raeburn.Carolyn: I grew up loving the Topper books and movies. Blithe Spirit is one of the most delightful plays ever created. I love good-humored, fun ghost stories. For many years, I toyed with the idea of a novel with a ghost. In fact, I touched a bit upon ghosts in Southern Ghost in the DEATH ON DEMAND series. A few years ago, I told my editor I wanted to do a ghost book. This was before the explosion in paranormal publishing so I wasn't trying to be part of a trend. My editor encouraged me. I started thinking about ghosts. Who was my ghost? Someone who had died. Where was she? In Heaven. I thought about Heaven and suddenly a fun, energetic, lively redhead came swinging around a cumulous cloud. She was Bailey Ruth Raeburn. The name came to me immediately. I looked at Bailey Ruth with interest. Where was she going? To The Department of Good Intentions. What was that? I followed her around a curve and up to an old-fashioned train station and I learned that the Department of Good Intentions dispatched emissaries to return to earth to help people in trouble. That was my introduction to Bailey Ruth, who never met a rule she wouldn't ignore and who has a heart as big as Texas. Jen: In MERRY, MERRY GHOST, Bailey must find out who murdered a rich dowager. Of course, the plot thickens with the arrival of an unexpected heir. Let’s start by talking about the supporting characters. Susan, the old woman, has no family until her grandson shows up on her front porch. How does his arrival breathe new life into her soul?Carolyn: Susan Flynn has known great heartbreak in her life, the death of a beloved daughter, a son who has been missing for some years. She is widowed. Her health is failing. She has nothing to live for. Everyone she has loved the most is gone from her. Those around her, some of whom are kind and supportive, are the relatives of her late husband. She has no family of her own. When Keith, the little four-year-old boy, is left on the front porch of her home shortly before Christmas, she discovers he is her grandson. His father, Susan's son, was killed in Iraq. Keith's mother died from pneumonia. Susan's joy in Keith makes Christmas once again a cherished holiday. Jen: Her sister-in-law Jake stands to inherit the family estate upon Susan’s death. Their relationship seems quite strained. What is the cause behind the tension? Is it jealousy? Carolyn: Jake is very fond of Susan and has always been kind to her. Since Susan's illness, Jake has served as mistress of Susan's stately home, Pritchard house. Susan appreciates Jake and has made it clear that Jake will inherit the house. Jake has enormous pride of possession in the house. The possibility that Susan will change her will and leave her estate to Keith shocks and upsets Jake. Jen: Besides the obvious familial connection, how are these two women similar? Who is the stronger person and why?Carolyn: I don't see them as very similar. Susan has always been confident, her status assured because she is a Pritchard. Jake had to scramble for security. The house matters more to her because she spent so many years beholden to Susan and her husband for support. Susan takes her wealth and position for granted. She automatically assumes leadership. Jen: Jake’s daughter Peg is the not only the peacemaker of the family but also the strong-willed daughter who stands up for what she believes. Why then does she allow her boyfriend Dave to walk all over her?Carolyn: Dave is one of the golden young men who have great charm. Peg was flattered that he cared for her though it becomes increasingly clear that Dave's interest depends upon whether Peg can further his career and ambitions through her connection to Susan. At first Peg is shocked when he begins to reveal his true nature. When she understands, she chooses the right path over pleasing Dave. Jen: Police Chief Sam Cobb is the only character privy to existence of Bailey, the celestial-being, although he is not quite certain what to make of her. Why does he so readily accept her “help” along the way in the solving of the murder case? And, at some point will he choose to confide in someone as to where he receives his tips? Why or why not?Carolyn: Sam Cobb is old enough to know that there is more to this world than we can always readily explain. He first encountered Bailey Ruth in GHOST AT WORK so her appearance in the events at Pritchard House does not come as a complete shock. He may wonder why he is visited by a helpful ghost, but he is willing to take assistance where he finds it. I don't know whether he will ever share this knowledge. Jen: Finally, as for Bailey herself, it seems a challenge for her to remain unseen due to the fact that she is in her hometown. Do you think her being a ghost is a blessing or a hindrance, and why so?Carolyn: Definitely, her status as a ghost is helpful. It makes it possible to employ an omniscient viewpoint. However, her unseen presence observing a character can only occur when Bailey Ruth decides on a course of action prompted by her own reasoning. Jen: Now that the novel is complete, what’s next for Bailey? And, when can we expect to see the third installment in bookstores?Carolyn: GHOST IN TROUBLE will be published in fall 2010. Bailey Ruth returns to earth when a woman undertakes a dangerous course of action to try and prove a murder occurred.Jen: Let’s switch gears and talk about your promotional plan. First of all, please take us on a tour of your website. Carolyn: It is www.CarolynHart.com . The website includes information about both current and past books, recent blogs and essays, reviews and interviews. Jen: Secondly, do you participate in author phone chats? And if so, how would my readers go about scheduling one? Also, do you have Reading Group Guides available for your books? Carolyn: I would be delighted to take part in a phone chat. To schedule, please contact my publicist at HarperCollins (Danielle.bartlett@harpercollins.com). I don't have Reading Guides. I know they would be helpful but right now I am trying to write two books a year and I haven't found time to develop Reading Guides.Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with my readers. I absolutely loved MERRY, MERRY GHOST! What a perfect book for the holiday season! Carolyn: Thank you very much, Jen. I hope your wonderful readers agree. Bailey Ruth and I send our warmest Christmas greetings.I hope you have enjoyed my interview with the prolific writer Carolyn Hart. I highly recommend all of her series. Believe me, if you have never read any of her books before, you’re in for a treat! Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch today and pick up a copy of MERRY, MERRY GHOST. Then again, how would you like to win one instead? Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail me with the correct answer to the following trivia question and it’s yours!What is the name of the 20TH title of the DEATH ON DEMAND series due out in April 2010?In December, I will be bringing to you my interview with romance writer Lori Wilde. You won’t want to miss it.Happy Thanksgiving!Jen

11/17/2009

Life is about choices. Whether it’s something as simple as what to make for dinner or as complex as which type of chemotherapy will work best, we all have decisions to make as well as adversities to overcome. How we choose to face them determines which path in life we take. Every road has its bumps. The trick is knowing how to successfully navigate around them. This month’s Jen’s Jewels Kevin Michael Connolly knows all too well that life is not fair. Born without two legs, he has learned in his brief twenty-four years how to turn his unfortunate circumstances into a life lesson we all can benefit from experiencing. In his poignant memoir DOUBLE TAKE, he shares with us his inspiring journey. Truly, his story is unforgettable. As part of this interview, Harper Studio has generously donated five copies for you, my lucky readers, to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure. Jen: At the age of twenty-three you penned a memoir that from start to finish defies imagination and reads much wiser than your years would suggest. Your life story to date is truly remarkable. Let’s start by talking about the unique circumstances that compelled you to tell your story publicly. Kevin: Thanks for the opportunity to do the interview. You certainly kicked it off with a big question! I really felt compelled to write this book for a couple of reasons. I’d completed the photo series discussed in the book about a year before I began pitching my idea to publishers. The reason why I wanted to write a memoir over a more traditional, coffee-table like approach was simply because I’d get more of a voice. As far as I’d known, I’d never heard of anyone at 23 who had traveled around the world on a skateboard without legs taking photos of being stared at. The more I started to think about that accomplishment, the more I realized the importance of discussing where that strength came from. If you want me to be totally honest, writing the book was hard as hell. Trying to be emotionally honest as an athletic 23 year-old Montanan was difficult enough, but putting all of those emotions to a page you knew would someday be read was really scary. I feel like I’ve grown up a lot just by virtue of surviving the writing process. That said, I’m so glad that I did it.Jen: At the beginning of the book, you mention briefly how your sister Meagan fought a “silent” battle as defender of her disabled brother. In your childhood days, how did your lack of legs positively affect your relationship with both your sisters? Kevin: I think that if anything, my lack of legs possibly solidified the familial bond. Not just between my sisters, either, but the whole family. I think that in some ways, that bond was created through dealing with all of the unwanted challenges and attention together. Maybe it’s a little like the bond I hear of between men and women in the military. Once you’ve seen and been through some nasty stuff together, that bond of friendship (or family) is strengthened. Jen: At any point did you feel a sense of guilt knowing that your disability greatly affected your family unit as a whole? And if so, how did you overcome that guilt?Kevin: I think that one of the smartest things that my parents did was to not let my disability greatly affect the family as a whole. I still got on the bus and went to school with my sisters. Still had the same amount of homework. Still got yelled at when I whined or shirked responsibility. I think that those very ordinary demands kept me from getting all wrapped up in guilt during my younger years.However, I would say that at a couple of points I’ve felt guilty about the impact my not-having-legs has had on my family. Most summers in Montana are spent hiking or camping, and I remember feeling bad about not being able to keep up on some of the more strenuous hiking trips. I’m damn strong, but my stride is short and a pack is more difficult to carry when you’re only using your arms to ambulate. All of those things added up to me usually being the last in the line of people on a hike. That said, as I’ve gotten older and spoken more openly with them about it, that guilt has really dissipated. Now I sound a lot like my Dad on hiking trips. “Screw ‘em, they can wait!”Jen: Despite your limitations, you were able to find a physical outlet that allowed your innate yearning for competition to surface. I chuckled as I read your description of the dirt bags, the men on the slopes. Please share with us your introduction to skiing and how it enabled you to find your voice within. Kevin: I was introduced to skiing at the age of ten, and my first day was spent up at Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, MT. I think my most vivid memory of that first day (and maybe my skiing experience as a whole) was of the car ride. Helena is almost two hours west of Bridger Bowl, and I remember grudgingly eating my cereal at five-thirty during that first morning while Dad ran around the house trying to scrounge up old hunting clothes and anything that would keep us warm on the hill. Most ski days, we left Helena before the sun came up, and got back well after it’d gone down. Especially during those early days of skiing when I was still trying to get in shape, I would maybe ski only four or five hours in a day. With that in mind, as much time was spent in the car as on the slopes.Crazy road trips aside, I think that skiing really gave me a physical outlet in which to both vent and express myself. It got me in shape and gave me more confidence. In high school especially, it allowed me to create an identity for myself that extended beyond “Kevin-the-Student” or “Kevin-the-Kid-in-the-Wheelchair” and into something much more in kind with my fellow peers. “Kevin the Skier.” The book is all about identities – both those that we occupy as well as those we throw onto others – and being a skier provided a really positive, challenging identity for me.Jen: Your relationship with your Dad in your teen years appears to be the center core of your being. In a sense, you both set out to conquer your disability from two unique angles yet ultimately united as one in its discovery. When was the defining moment in your relationship when you knew that with your skiing, you two had found a mutual respect and admiration for each other?Kevin: I don’t know if it really happened during skiing, to be honest. Dad – while he supported my skiing with almost religious fanaticism – still stressed that my success in school was far more important than on the ski hill. So while I admired what Dad was doing for me all of those years, I don’t think that I appreciated (or fully realized) just how much he was doing for me during that time. During the writing of the book, though, I called him on more than one occasion to thank him just for putting up with a semi-ungrateful (or not grateful enough) son and some long hours on the road.Now things are much different, of course. Pops and I definitely have the mutual respect thing going, though it stems from a more holistic, traditional place. The basic thing with my Dad is that he’ll give all of the time and money he physically can to his kids, but he expects a hell of a lot out of them in return. So I think that he’s more admiring of the fact that I’m his 24-year-old son with a college degree; a good job; a solid work ethic; and decent moral fiber. Jen: Growing up without two legs, you know firsthand how it feels to be living as if you are always under the microscope. Rather than dwelling on the harsh reality of your circumstances, you chose to turn it into a learning experience for all of us. Please describe for us your project.Kevin: The Rolling Exhibition involved rolling around the world on a skateboard and chronicling the reactions people had to me in all of these different countries and cultures. The bulk of the photo project was shot over the summer of 2007, between my Junior and Senior year of college. The project involved almost 33,000 photographs and really went out to prove two things:
1.) That nearly everyone - regardless of age, location, or culture - stares at the people that spark their interest or curiosity.
2.) After that initial look, people sometimes create a narrative in their heads as to why that person came to be. This is where the nuance comes in, and where I would like to turn it over to an excerpt from my artist statement that's posted at http://www.therollingexhibition.com/statement.php .
It says:
"Whether it is a glance or a neck twisting ogle, we look at that which does not seem to fit in our day to day lives. It is that one instant of unabashed curiosity - more reflex than conscious action - that makes us who we are and has been one of my goals to capture over the past year. It is after this instant that we try to hazard a guess as to why such an anomalous person exists. Was it disease? Was it a birth defect? Was it a landmine? These narratives all come from the context in which we live our lives. Illness, drugs, calamity, war - all of these might become potential stories depending upon what we are exposed to in connection with disability."
While I think that the first objective was clearly accomplished by the photo series, the second was much better articulated in the later sections of Double Take.Jen: Your mother seems to be the constant in your life always willing to accept any decision you make as a step in the right direction. When you made the decision to travel the world, what was going on in your mind about the way this would affect her? As a mother, I can only imagine how she must have worried about your safety.Kevin: By the time I came to her with my idea to travel, I already knew that she’d have my back. She’ll always advise us kids, but once a decision is reached, she gets behind it. So when I called her, I was kind of hoping that she’d play against type and actually try and talk me down. I knew that I was making a big commitment to the project, and that conversation was probably my last chance to back out of the whole trip. If there’s one thing Mom’s good at, though, it’s controlling her tone and emotions. She can’t play poker to save her life, but she sure is tough to read on the phone. If she sounded worried or concerned, she didn’t let on. Jen: In order to navigate your journey, you enlisted the aid of your “custom-built” skateboard. Describe for us your mode of transportation and how you were able to use it to serve your purpose. Kevin: My mode of transport during this journey abroad was a Sector9 longboard (basically a heavier, longer, and more stable version of a skateboard). While I did assemble the board using my own selection of parts, the reason I chose a skateboard over a wheelchair was specifically because it wasn’t truly custom built. If I shredded a wheel on glass bottle or seized up some ball bearings in a flood, I could pull a replacement out of my backpack, or find something at a skateshop if I was in a city. Those are advantages not as easily afforded to a wheelchair, and as a result, I found that traveling on a skateboard was a much more efficient (if not attention-getting) way to get around.Jen: Throughout the book, you have peppered each anecdote with examples of your fascinating photographs. Truly, a picture says a thousand words. Which one best encapsulates your entire experience and how so?Kevin: Boy, I don’t know if I’d be able to answer that. While I’m dearly in love with certain photographs on an aesthetic level – the Girl on the Millennium Bridge in London, or the two Romans in Split, Croatia – I don’t think that I can single one out as best encapsulating my entire experience. I think that, if anything, the photo series is meant more to explore single reaction as it appears crystallized in all these faces around the world. When I set out to make this project, I set out to prove a fact about human nature, and so I wanted to be as deliberate as I could in terms of creating something that looked more like a data set from a scientific study than a bunch of pretty photographs. It’s why all of the photos are taken on the same lens, from the same angle, without ever once looking through the viewfinder. I was setting rules for myself. Basically creating a system of controls in which my only variable was the bipeds walking by.So as a result, while really love my photo project, I feel like it is ultimately more a visual preface to the ideas expressed in the book rather than its own entity. We created the endpapers to the book with just that idea in mind. All of those faces on the endpapers of Double Take serve somewhat as a Cliff Notes to the photo project itself. Jen: I read that your photographs have been on display around the world. Are they currently on exhibit? And if so, where?Kevin: Yes they are! I have two galleries currently traveling around the continental U.S. as well as another gallery displaying in Liverpool, UK. Jen: I was so excited when I read about your girlfriend! Every person needs to love and be loved. In what ways has your disability made you a better partner? If you don’t mind me asking, are you currently in a relationship?Kevin: I don’t know if I can answer that fairly or responsibly. Being born without legs, I’ve never really been in someone else’s shoes, and thus can’t really speak on whether or not my not-having-legs has had any effect on my success as a partner. I would say that I’m a constantly traveling workaholic has probably more to do with my efficacy as a partner than the legs thing!That said, I am not currently in a relationship.Jen: One of the most moving parts in the book for me was on page 171 where you discuss the word disabled. You write, “You are only disabled if you are incapable of overcoming the challenges presented in any given situation.” What powerful words! So true! How have you been able to incorporate these words into your everyday living?Kevin: The way I apply those words to my life is by looking at time in small chunks. I’m a big fan of “winging it” in almost any situation – whether that’s speaking in front of a crowd or trying to adapt my way out of a new situation – so viewing disability in an ephemeral light makes a lot of sense to me. Say we’re racing through an airport. I’m going to smoke you both speed and efficiency anytime we’re on flat ground in the terminal. However, you’ll be able to laugh at me later when I’m hauling my slow butt up a flight of stairs. It’s all a tradeoff. Not better, not worse, just different.Jen: In the book you mention that you were driving with your family alongside you in the car. What specific adaptations were made in order for you to do this?Kevin: Automotive hand controls are actually a fairly standard device that we had installed by a small business an hour outside of my hometown. It’s basically a little lever that sits underneath the blinker on the left side of the steering wheel. Pull down for gas, and push in for brake. Try not to mix the two up.Jen: Now that your story has been put into words, what is next for you in your life’s journey?Kevin: Another project. This one deals a bit more with tech than photos (so images are still a big component). We’re still in prototype phase, but all I can say is that I tested out one of the rigs I’ll be using on my next bout of travel and….I can jump (really high) and run (really fast).Jen: Finally, let’s talk about your website. Please walk us through it.Kevin: My work on the web has really been where I put most of my early efforts. The website for The Rolling Exhibition ( www.therollingexhibition.com) was built by an old high school buddy who offered to do it for super cheap. After collaborating on the design for the site, we realized that my image needed to be in some way integrated with the website in order to understand the look on each person’s face in the photos. After my appearance on ABC’s 20/20, I remember my site crashing four or five times due to the traffic load. Since then, the link has made its way around the world, and I still get hits from Iran, Russia, and Korea, to name a few.Since the inception of that site, I’ve created another one that works somewhat as my “mothership” online. All of my photographs (including The Rolling Exhibition and extra photos from my book Double Take) are stored on the site along with my blog and book trailer. The site is called www.KevinMichaelConnolly.com and I check up on it every day. Posting a comment on my blog or sending me a line from there is definitely the best way to get a hold of me.Jen: To thank you for stopping by would be such a trite statement. Rather, thank you for allowing my readers the chance to view the world through a beacon of hope. Your story is truly amazing. I wish you only the best in your future endeavors. I have no doubt. You will soar.Kevin: Thanks again, Jen. I hope everyone enjoys the book!I hope you’ve been inspired as much as I was from reading about Kevin’s miraculous journey. Please stop by your favorite bookstore, Amazon.com, or local library branch and pick up a copy of DOUBLE TAKE today.Better yet, would you like to win one instead? Okay, be one of the first five people to send me an e-mail at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following trivia question.What is Kevin’s “custom-built” mode of transportation?On November 20th, I will be bringing to you my interview with the award-winning mystery novelist Carolyn Hart. You won’t want to miss it.Until next time…Jen

Melanie Middleton’s life has been turned upside down. First, she inherited a historic home on Tradd Street in Charleston. Then, she met a most handsome rogue named Jack Trenholm who has a devilish way of getting under her skin. Now Ginnette Prioleau, the mother who abandoned her over thirty years ago, has come back into her life. If only she could turn back the clock to the simpler days when being Charleston’s best real estate agent was her only concern. Being a top-notch broker like Melanie has its advantages. She knows how to spot a true diamond in the rough, and she’ll do whatever it takes to seal the deal. So naturally when her historic childhood home on Legare Street comes on the market, it’s no surprise that the interested party wants her for representation. Unfortunately, the client just happens to be her estranged mother.Putting her feelings of betrayal aside, Melanie chooses to help her mom buy the property back and even goes one step further by agreeing to spearhead the home’s restoration project. As the walls start coming down, Melanie comes to realize that there is more to this project than meets the eye. With the help of Jack and her mother, she soon discovers a menacing ghost seeking revenge against her family. With no other choice than to combine their sixth senses, Melanie and Ginnette prepare to fight the haunting figure that has threatened the Prioleau women for centuries. With Jack by their side, they dare to cross the forbidden boundary in an attempt to save their lives. THE GIRL ON LEGARE STREET is the highly anticipated sequel to THE HOUSE ON TRADD STREET. Once again, White masterfully captures the essence of Charlestonian life in a haunting tale of betrayal, lust, and most importantly family honor. Through her vivid descriptions and spell-binding prose, she brings together the past with the present in a supernatural tale definitely worth the read.

Guy Fieri, best-known as the bleach-blonde spiky hair chef on The Food Network channel, is at it again in his latest release MORE DINERS, DRIVE-INS AND DIVES. Winner of the second season of The Next Food Network Star, he took the network by storm with his vivacious personality and good-natured charm. What started out as a test drive has turned into stardom and fame for this fun-lovin’ California guy. As host of the three hit shows, Guy’s Big Bite, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and Ultimate Recipe Showdown, Guy serves up the right balance of know-how and charm to keep his fans coming back for more. His first book, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives made its way to the New York TimesBestseller List. In his follow-up release, he takes his readers on another tour around the country serving up some of the best dishes discovered on his culinary cruise.With a foreword written by none other than the legendary chef Emeril Lagasse, MORE DINERS, DRIVE-INS AND DIVES gives the reader a backstage pass to the making of this popular television show.It also includes a Q&A section with Guy himself plus anecdotal recaps from some of the most memorable episodes. The most interesting part of the introduction is the section called “What It Takes to Pull Off the Show.” Each member of the crew shares thoughts about Guy, his pranks, and other interesting facts and tidbits.The many restaurants Guy has frequented are divided into four main sections of the country. With each establishment, he delivers some background information complete with photographs to make the reader feel right at home. The mouth-watering recipes make even the most finicky eater want to step out of the box and try something new. From Cheddar Cheese Burgers with Jezebel Sauce to Bar-B-Q Fried Chicken, Guy Fieri once again makes mealtime the best part of the day.

11/03/2009

I have a secret that I must share. I have rekindled an old relationship. As the saying goes…it just happened. My discreet partner is thoughtful, understanding, and at times comforting on a cold, blustery day. When I need a moment of silence on my way to carpool, I have it. When I need a friend to lean on after a long day, I have one. Quite frankly, I never realized just how in tune I have become with my long, lost friend…God.

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Fern Nichols has experienced quite the same epiphany. As a mother, she experienced firsthand the ups and downs of raising children in the crazy world in which we live. So, she turned to a higher power to help her navigate life’s journey. In her latest release, WHEN MOMS PRAY TOGETHER: True Stories of God’s Power to Transform Your Child, she calls upon the help of faithful moms to give encouragement to others facing life’s challenges.

As part of this interview, Tyndale has generously donated five copies for you, my lucky readers, to win. So, don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end of the column. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.

Jen: As the mother of four children as well as a grandmother, you have experienced firsthand the Herculean feat of raising healthy, happy children. So that my readers may have a better understanding of the path you took in becoming an author, please tell us about your educational and professional experience.

Fern:

My mother was an inspiration to me. She took seriously her role of mothering.She was able to be a stay-at-home mom and was very intentional about our physical, mental and spiritual development.She made nutritious meals, made sure we went to school, taught us the Word of God, modeled prayer and faithfully took us to church.

As a result of how she was raising me, I believe God set deep in my heart the importance of the godly influence of a mother. And that’s what I wanted to be.I had no intention of going to college or having a career.I wanted to be a MOM!! But God in His Sovereignty not only opened doors for me to go to college, but to major in the thing I loved most -- children.I earned my degree in education. Both my fiancé, Rle, and I graduated from college together, got married one month later and both taught school in the same district.

In our third year of marriage God blessed us with a baby boy, and I was able to become a stay-at-home mom.God gave me the desires of my heart.But did I ever learn a lot as a new mom!I needed the Lord more than ever.I was in the Word and on my knees seeking direction, wisdom and guidance for this new little life.I was intentional, just like my mom, and from birth began the life-long teaching of the Word, prayer and taking him to church. God blessed us with three more children and my desire to raise “Jesus Lovers” was heightened all the more.

Throughout those years of raising these precious “gifts” God gave us, I was very active in living out my faith.I wanted to serve the One I loved.I had many opportunities to do that through teaching Sunday School, being choir director, playing the organ and piano, and teaching neighborhood Bible studies.My husband and I were called to serve in Campus Crusade for Christ for 15 years.Rle was the coach for Athletes In Action.In my seasons of service, I purposed in my heart that my priorities would be God first, family second and ministry third.Truly my profession was Motherhood!

Jen: Your religious faith has been the cornerstone to the development of your career as an inspirational speaker and advocate for Christianity. What was the driving force that led you to pursue this vocation?

Fern:

There really was no driving force to be an inspirational speaker.As I desired to please the Lord and follow His will for my life, opportunities opened for me to speak at retreats, churches, seminars, workshops.My main topics were always centered on how to be a mature Christian, the blessings of motherhood and prayer.

On one fall day in 1984 as I kissed my two eldest sons goodbye before they left for school, I went back to the kitchen with a very heavy, burdened heart for them.I was truly fearful for their spiritual lives at that public school. So many things loomed in my mind of the incredible battles they would be facing. Would they make the right decisions in tempting situations, would they be able to recognize humanistic teachings, would they choose godly, moral friends? And on and on it went. As I was talking to the Lord about this, I prayed a desperate simple prayer, “Lord, there must be one other mom who will pray with me for our children and the school.”I had experienced the power of corporate prayer and it was time to unite.

The Lord laid upon my heart the name of another mom. I immediately called her and poured out my heart, the burden I felt, and asked if she would take time out of her busy schedule to come to my house and pray. She felt the same way and agreed to come. We thought of a few other moms we could invite. So, that very next week there were five of us in my living room praying a simple four step format of prayer that kept us praying the whole hour.We were serious. The lives of our children were at stake.

Out of one desperate mom’s burden for her boys, God birthed a prayer ministry for children and schools. You truly do not know what God has in mind when on one unassuming day you are in prayer.

Jen: Let’s talk about Moms in Touch International. Please describe for us its core purpose.

Fern: We named our group Moms in Touch -- moms in touch with God, with one another, with our children and the school through prayer. We knew we could not physically follow our children around at school, even though a lot of moms would love to. But, the one thing we did know was that when we prayed, Jesus would be there.We were experiencing so many answers to prayer that we couldn’t help but tell others.The grassroots movement began. Moms were calling me to come to their house to help form a group for their school. Then churches began inviting me to come share. God opened opportunities to share at retreats. The word about this life-changing ministry was spreading.

Jen: How did your vision become a reality? And, what part did Dr. James Dobson (Focus on the Family) play in helping you achieve your goal?

Fern:

God kept increasing my vision.At first it was prayer for my children and the school they attended.And then the vision increased for all the schools to be covered in my area. Then in 1985 God moved our family with Campus Crusade for Christ from British Columbia, Canada, to Poway near San Diego, California.I knew no one.One simple prayer emerged, “Lord, I need one other mom to pray with me.” By the end of the school year, there were 15 moms coming to my home to pray for the high school.In 1988 we had our first MITI retreat. Thirty-five women were at a retreat center together in a fire-side room thanking God for all the answers to prayer we had seen since praying in a MITI group. The Holy Spirit was moving sweetly among us. A prayer emerged, “Lord, we have been changed, our children and the school have been changed, and we now ask that all the schools in the San Diego area be covered in prayer.” The prayer grew even bigger. We then prayed for all of California schools to have a MITI group. Then our faith grew to ask for the whole Northwest. The Holy Spirit moved our prayers across the United States and then around the world. There was silence. Then one mom prayed, “Lord, who can tell the women of the world about Moms in Touch?” There was a pause. “Dobson, that’s who.”“Lord, we ask to be on his program.”I think we were all stunned at first by the request and then there was a joyous agreement.

Three months later, without anyone contacting FOF, LuAnne Crane from FOF called me, asking about MITI. She caught the vision, and said there were a lot of requests that crossed Dr. Dobson’s desk so she couldn’t promise anything.

Did we ever pray! We were so bold that not only did we ask to be on the program, but that God would give us two days, just in case a mom didn’t hear the first day. God answered above and beyond our request.He gave us three days.Twelve other moms joined Dr. Dobson and me in the studio. God knew this message of hope needed to be heard by moms.The result of the program was over 24,000 responses. Needless to say, the ministry has never been the same since that day. We are Moms In Touch International, and we are now in over 130 countries.

Jen: And initially, what affect did it have on your family? Did your children feel any pressure growing up having to live up to other’s high expectations in terms of their behavior? Their mother was (and still is!) a devoted Christian. We all know…kids will be kids no matter who their parents are.

Fern:

My family really didn’t know exactly all what was happening. By God’s grace, I was able to change hats from ministry to home easily. When my children were home I was able to have my focus on them and was involved in all their activities. I remember one time I took a red-eye flight to speak at a MITI retreat so that I wouldn’t miss my son’s football game. They realized the scope of the ministry for the first time when they attended the MITI 10th Anniversary Retreat. There were 750 women who came from many different states. My family was amazed and said, “Mom, I knew you prayed for us, but we didn’t realize what you were doing.” It was a real eye-opener, even for my husband.

Jen: With the creation of this powerful group came your writing of several books. Your latest release, WHEN MOMS PRAY TOGETHER, is a heart-warming collection of stories that would inspire even the non-believer to have faith. Describe for us its metamorphosis.

Fern:

I never set out to be a writer.In fact, I remember in my English class in high school that I had a lot of red marks on my papers. But again, God in His Sovereign plan for my life had an agent from Zondervan contact me to encourage me to tell my story.If it weren’t for Janet Kobobel Grant capturing my “voice” in the book Every Child Needs a Praying Mom, it would not have received the silver medallion award. She was a key piece in writing that book. Connie Kennemer was my co-writer for the gift book Prayers From a Mom’s Heart.

The new book WHEN MOMS PRAY TOGETHER was birthed because of my deep desire to glorify God for His faithfulness to MITI for 25 years. As our 25th anniversary was approaching, I wanted to display His glory through sharing answers to moms’ prayers. I was encouraged by Cheri Fuller to call Larry Weeden and share my vision for the book with him: 25 stories representing answers to prayer over 25 years. I wanted it to be a legacy book that I could give to my grandchildren one day and say, “Honey, the God who answered these prayers is the same God who will answer your prayers today.” This is not a “coffee table” book to just sit on the shelf. I wanted this book to strengthen the faith and prayer life of women all over the world. Larry caught the vision and the project began. Once again I needed the “body” to make this book have the impact that I wanted it to have. Thankfully, when I asked three women to come alongside me and edit the stories, they each said, “Yes.”They are Cyndie de Neve, Mary Jenson and Cheri Fuller.

When a mom wrote me after reading the book, I was so pleased. She said, “This book is all about God and His glory. It doesn’t glorify MITI at all, and yet the heart of MITI shines through, offering hope to desperate mothers who need to know that God cares, is powerful, and offers compassionate support for moms, through women who will pray without judging.” What a great joy to see that the vision was truly fulfilled.

Jen: In terms of the nuts and bolts, how were you able to collect these inspirational stories to share with your readers? And, did you make an outline of certain topics that you wanted to explore, or was it simply just finding a unique voice within each one that needed to be heard?

Fern:

We put the word out to our MITI leadership about the project and asked them to share with us a powerful answer to prayer. We gave them guidelines and suggestions of topics that we were interested in. The stories started coming in. Through prayer, my team and I came to consensus and identified the compelling stories that we felt were not uncommon and that mothers would readily identify with. Each story displays God’s glory even though some of the prayers did not turn out as expected.

Jen: The inspirational quotes and prayers peppered throughout the book are truly beautiful. Can you lend some suggestions as to how the reader may go about incorporating them into his or her spiritual journey?

Fern:

There is something about hearing truth from the heart of another saint.I chose quotes that had meant a lot to me over the years. Quotes that encouraged me, made me ponder and sometimes led me to prayer that God would strengthen me with this truth and that He would help me live it. I wanted the reader to have the opportunity to be blessed as I was and still am.I also chose Scriptures that are especially meaningful to me. I wanted a lot of Scripture in the book. There are no greater words than God’s words.It is His “now” speaking voice that pierces the soul, draws it to a greater intimacy with Him. I would suggest memorizing one quote or Scripture a week! When we hide God’s word in our hearts, at the appropriate time in whatever circumstance we may be going through, God will bring these Scriptures and quotations to mind to give us courage.

Jen: I have to admit, each story is utterly amazing in the sense that as a mom, I could totally relate no matter what the circumstances were. The one that left a lasting impression on me was chapter 13 Unlocked: Hope for Moms with Disabled Children by Thalia Henning of California. In what ways did you personally reach out to the contributors?

Fern:

Each story touched my heart. Each one drew me into the hurt and pain of her situation, and her desperateness to believe and her courage to join with others and not give up praying.I was so blessed that each story revealed a faithful, caring God who manifested Himself in precious ways. If the story needed clarification or if emotions needed to be described more clearly, the editors would get back with the story writers and ask appropriate questions to bring about a clearer, more compelling understanding. They were all wonderful to work with, even though at times it was hard for some of them to go back to a dark emotional place, but they did, for the sake of the reader.

Jen: If you had to choose, which story impacted you the most and why?

Fern:

The chapter that filled my eyes with tears each time I read it is was Connie’s Kennemer’s story, chapter 15. Connie and I go way back to 1985. She came to my home to see how a MITI group could pray a whole hour. As a result, God prompted her to start the first elementary MITI in the Poway area. She was a worship leader also and came to lead the worship at our MITI retreats.We traveled together, prayed together, laughed together, cried together, and talked about the MITI vision together. Her story did not turn out all neat and tidy. And yet, by what God taught her about who He is through MITI -- she still sings. She is an inspiration to me.

Jen: How did you personally grow as a mom after the completion of this project?

Fern:

Once again the great realization that God’s plans and purposes will not be thwarted, and the wonderful mystery, the marvel that Almighty God in His Sovereignty has chosen His bride to partner with Him in prayer to accomplish His will on earth.So, now as a grandmother, crying out with other grandmothers for the next generation, I know that my God is an unchanging faithful God. He will save, deliver and lead my grandchildren on paths of righteousness because I have seen the power of God revealed manifested by the prayer of many.

Jen: And, what was the most valuable lesson learned from this experience?

Fern:

That moms are not alone. Our hearts beat the same for our children and grandchildren all over the world. Also, that God did not intend for us to carry our burdens by ourselves. We truly do need each other. There is no better place to be than in the community of praying moms. This book is proof of that.

Jen: How would my readers go about joining (or even starting) a Moms In Touch group?

Fern:

To start or find a local Moms In Touch group to pray for your children and schools, and for resources and information, we have an excellent, user-friendly website: www.momsintouch.org.We also have a number they can call: 1-800-949-MOMS. As our vision is that every school be covered in prayer we are excited to think that after moms/grandmothers read this book they will not wait, but start today. Truly, the time is urgent. As Lamentations 2:19 says, Arise cry out in the night, as the watches of the night being. Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord, lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street. Our children need Jesus NOW! We MUST pray.

Jen: Now that this project is completed, what is the next step in your journey?

Fern:

To keep on keeping on. We will not rest until the vision is realized. We will continue to sound the clarion call to “Arise! Cry Out!” through whatever means available as we seek the Lord for His continued direction, wisdom and guidance. We are being very intentional in our strategies to reach out to the moms with young children. She is the next generation of moms that we will hand the baton of this prayer movement to. May the LORD find us in prayer until the day He returns.

Jen: Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to stop by and chat with my readers. Your book is the perfect gift for any mom this holiday season. Thanks for sharing your words of wisdom with my readers. God Bless.

Fern:

What a great joy that I can share through this book the goodness of the Lord through the power of praying with others. And that you have given me this opportunity. Thank you so much.May the Lord receive all the glory.

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Fern Nichols. Please stop by your local library branch or favorite bookstore today and pick up a copy of WHEN MOMS PRAY TOGETHER: True Stories of God’s Power to Transform Your Child.Better yet, how would you like to win one? Okay, be one of the first five readers to e-mail me at jensjewels@gmail.com with the correct answer to the following trivia question. Good luck!

What is the name of the organization Fern started for praying moms?

On November 10th, I will be bringing to you my interview with an extraordinary young autobiographer, Kevin Michael Connolly. You won’t want to miss it.